Goren on Bridge

When bridge experts talk about the greatest declarers of all time, the name of the late Tim Seres is always in that conversation. Seres was born in Europe but relocated to Australia as a young man and made his life there. The literature of bridge is bursting with examples of his skill, and we are happy to feature one of them today. He was South. Seres was an avid rubber bridge player, for high stakes, perhaps explaining his jump to game. He wanted to get his side vulnerable in the rubber. A three-heart bid instead would have worked well, as partner would have bid three notrump and made it with no drama.

Most declarers, we believe, would have played a high honor from dummy on the opening spade lead. East would ruff and South would have three more inescapable losers, even with the ace of clubs favorably placed. Seres found the elegant play of ducking the opening lead in dummy! West continued with the jack of spades, covered with the ace, and ruffed by East. East shifted to a diamond to dummy’s ace. Seres drew the trumps and led a spade to dummy’s nine, and then discarded a diamond on the king of spades. Making four when the ace of clubs proved to be onside.

The winning play on this deal was a simple one, but we think most declarers would have missed it.

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